Mowag MR 8

MOWAG MR8-01 Wotan
MOWAG Wotan at Military Museum Full
Place of origin	Switzerland
Service history
Used by	Germany
Production history
Designer	MOWAG motor car factory Kreuzlingen
Manufacturer	Bussing Henschel in Germany
Produced	1963
No. built	aprox. 700
Variants	SW1 , SW2
Specifications
Mass	8,500 kg (18,700 lb)
Crew	4: driver, commander +2 passengers in the rear area
Main armament	depending on version = SW1 no, SW2 20mm automatic cannon, mortars
Engine	V8 Chrysler 6 cylinder gasoline engine 161 kW
Transmission	ZF transmission, 5 forward gears, 1 reverse
Suspension	4x4 wheeled
Operational range	400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed	80 km/h (50 mph)on road,42 km/h (26 mph)off road.12 km/h (7 mph) water

The MOWAG MR8-01 (Wotan) is a armored personnel carriers.

History and Development

Equipped with 2-axle steering, the vehicle is able to drive a very small turning circle. The arrangement of the engine installed in the rear right is very special and allows the crew to leave the vehicle at the side and rear. Named as special car (SW1 and SW2) was the WOTAN from 1963 on introduced by the Bundesgrenzschutz (West German bordar guard. later Bundespolizei). They were built by Bussing Henschel in Germany, in approximately 700 pieces. The SW 1 was referred too as Special Car 1. It have no own armament. The Special Car 2 was similar to the special SW1, however, had a turret with armament: 20 mm automatic cannon or a machine gun MG 1/2 of SW 2b. There are other options such as a mortar vehicles which was built but found no buyers. Built as a prototype the Wotan who was tested by the Federal Border Guard (BGS) is now in the Army Museum Full / Fort Reuenthal. .

References

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F045459-0003, Bonn, Bewachung des Bundeskanzleramts (Bundesgrenzschutz MR 8 on guard duty outside Federal Chancellery in Bonn, 13th May 1975)